Montenegro Coastal Survey

Project Duration: 2009-present

Partners: Center for Conservation and Archaeology at Cetinje, the Regional Center for Underwater Demining and Diving Training, Rescue, Relief and Control at Sea, Bijela,the Montenegro Ministry of Culture and RPMNF

Since 2010, this survey of an important stretch of coastline in the eastern Adriatic, part of the Illyian Coastal Exploration Program, has proved highly rewarding. Results from previous years include numerous ancient wrecksites that are expanding our knowledge of maritime trade in this region. Wrecksites in off-shore, deeper waters are providing important new data for archaeological investigation.

This survey produced detailed bathymetric maps, locations of all submerged cultural material, and documentation of significant site finds for the Ministry of Culture and the Center for Conservation and Archaeology. This database allows for further scholarly research, produced a GIS reference chart of the coast, provided information to assist Montenegro in protecting its submerged cultural resources, and fostered educational opportunities for students. As RPMNF conducts multi-disciplinary projects (biology and geology), research and educational opportunities are not limited to archaeology.

History of the Montenegro Coastal Survey

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Multibeam operations were undertaken during June 2009 by the R/V Hercules. The survey area was designated based on the areas of interest by the Regional De-Mining Center and Center for the Protection of Cultural Heritage. The particular of interest to these parties was the bays of Kotor and Risan. Risan possesses remains dating to the 5th century BCE and extending into the medieval period. Additionally, the survey of the coastline began with the area directly opposite the entrance into Tivat Bay.

During the 2009 season the entire combined areas of Kotor and Risan Bays, approximately 28 square kilometers, were surveyed with the 3002 multibeam echosounder sonar. There were 55 anomalies designated during the 2009 field season; 22 in the Kotor-Risan Bay area and 33 in the coastal zone. By the end of the project 18 anomalies were verified: 2 of the 22 in Risan-Kotor Bays and 16 of the 33 along the coast. Some time was lost for poor weather during the first half of the field season that prevented multibeam operations; hence fewer anomalies were completed. After ROV operations in the Risan-Kotor Bays, the anecdotal information about the area being looted of nearly all antiquities on the surface appears to be correct. If any material does survive, it is buried beneath the silt. The coastal anomalies, on the other hand, were quite promising.

Upon investigation, what appeared to be a submarine was located partially buried in the silty bottom. This vessel has large sections of the outer plating missing, some of which appears torn away. There are at least two torpedo tubes along the NE side of the vessel, and a large hatch or gun emplacement positioned along the vessel’s top at the NW end. Along the SE third is a structure that extends nearly one meter off the vessel; if this is indeed a submarine, then this structure is likely its coning tower. A review of the WWI-era submarines in the Maritime Museum in Kotor provide several good matches for dimensions and features. It is not clear from the evidence if this was the scuttled Austro-Hungarian submarine U-72, or whether a British submarine (possibly the H2) that was also lost in the area.

The 2011 field season multibeam coverage continued from Cape Platamuni into Budvanski Zaliv. Depths for the survey ranged from c. 15 m in the shallow bay areas out to the 80-m contour. The multibeam survey reached an area roughly parallel with the island of Saint Nikola. Eight submerged sites were located during anomaly verification in 2011, bringing the total to 21 wreck sites for the first 3 field seasons. Of the 8 sites discovered in 2011, 4 were ancient wrecksites and 4 were modern wrecksites. As RPM continued to survey, more wrecks were discovered; as of 2011, a total of 9 ancient wrecksites had been located between the entrance of Boka Kotorska and Budvanski Zaliv within 6-7 km of shore.

The 2012 field season multibeam coverage continued from Cape Platamuni into Budvanski Zaliv, where it filled in the gaps left in 2011 and extended the survey area out to the 100-m contour. Depths for the survey ranged from c. 25 m in the shallow bay areas to 100 m. Four previously located sites from 2010 and 2011 were re-visited in order to obtain additional ceramic examples. These collected artifacts assist in determining the nature of the cargo, and fabric samples taken from some of them were sent for analysis at the University of Southampton. Petrologic, and possibly thermoluminescent, tests on these samples will assist in determining the manufacturing origin of the amphoras.

A new ancient site was located during anomaly verification in 2012, bringing the total to 22 wreck sites for the 4 field seasons. Survey operations during the 2013-4 field season continued from the SE border of the coastal section completed in 2012 from Cape Platamuni into Budvanski Zaliv, where it filled in the gaps left in 2011 and extended the survey area out to the 100-m contour. Depths for the survey ranged from c. 25 m in the shallow bay areas to 100 m. A total of 10 ancient wrecksites have now been located between the entrance of Boka Kotorska and Budvanski Zaliv.

Survey for the 2015 field season continued SE down the coastline into the area of Budva and St. Nikola island where the distance between shore and the 100-m contour widens considerably. ROV operations completed any viable targets not verified from the 2014 field season as well as newly generated anomalies.> Read Less